Bounce, 12 Angry Men and the National

Just before flying out to Venice I had three nights out in succession, which isn't ideal for packing.

First night out was quite surreal if one thinks about it. I found myself playing ping-pong with a QC

Bounce is an inspired idea. Its a combination of bar and table tennis hall. Almost perfect in conception. Table tennis played well is an active sport, but not so active that you can't enjoy a beer or two as well. We decided Bounce would be a good venue for a client event, so we went there with a firm of independent trustees and a specialist pensions barristers' chambers.

I had a great time. Table tennis is very much my game, and I got quite back in the groove by the end of the evening. Although I was stiff as a board for the next few days. Yes I am that unfit.

12 Angry men is one of my favourite films. Its black and white and starred the late Henry Fonda as an upright juror. If you aren't familiar with the plot, a young lad from the wrong side of the tracks is on trial for murdering his father. The whole film/play is set in the jury room after the trial, and its just about how the one man talks around his fellow jurors from guilty to not guilty, one by one, just by questioning the evidence they had heard. I think its particular appeal is the way it highlights human frailties, prejudice, bitterness, vanity, loneliness and how these things can effect one's judgment.

The play was however just slightly disappointing. Martin Shaw just doesn't quite work compared to Henry Fonda, and inevitably its the comparison one makes. The racist is just a little too racist and a little too easy to run out of steam. And Robert Vaughn as the old man is sadly just a little too old. He is 81 now and lost his way a bit in the second act although the rest of the cast covered over his fluffed lines very well, as if they had done so before.

So, ping pong, theatre, what could follow but a rock gig. My boss texted me to ask if I had heard of a band called the National as his train was full of people on the way to their show at Alexandra Palace. I was able to text back that not only had I heard of them but I was on my way there too.

A very good act to see. I went with one of my younger colleagues and it was he who got me into them in the first place. Totally by accident. he lent me a memory stick with tracks from the Shins (which was what I was after), but also the National and I liked their stuff even more. So off we went to see them live. And they were very good. As with other bands, they are much "rockier" live than on cd. Usually you do just get more out of a live act - it does sound different to listening to your music digitally.

Thinking man's rock I feel. American indie bands do well over here - even though most people would never have heard of them they sold out the Ally Pally, and that's a 10,000 capacity venue. A great night out with my young colleague anyway, and luckily my flight to Venice is an afternoon one, so no ridiculously early morning to follow.